Connecticut western news., 1887-05-18
dcn of the obloquy that had been his

share, and now, when tho women who had so misguided him crowded about him with wordy recantatious, he smiled at them inscrutably, and they were com forted. They said among tn, mselves: "He took it so lightly, Le had never cared much" Not much-you see there wasn't the making of a hero in him. All the glory was reserved for the men who had gone away in uniform.
 It was in tho third year of the war that Randolph Fairfax came home wounded, not badly. but he had fought splendidly and was entitled to a short respite. He tried hard to say something handsome and grateful to Davenport about the way he had looked after his wife and children during his own absence in the army, and he sincerely hoped those sharp and foolish words of his about Davenport's beard had died from his memory: They had not-he felt quite sure of it when Davenport, resting his blue eyes calmly on him for mo- ment, turned slowly on his heel and be- gan giving directions about kit of mackerel that was to be sent to old Mrs. Murray back in the Red Lick settlement. Fairfax did not como to the store any more after that, but remained closely at home on tho plantation-so closely that he dld not hear what Davenport heard one morning from the trembling lips of one of Fairfax's own freed slaves. What Davenport heard was that posse of the enemy was going to raid the neighbor- hood that night to capture Major Fair fax; he would be prisoner we'll worth their efforts. It was left with Daven- port to warn the major of his danger. There was no one to whom he could in trust the task. The long, lonely gallop through the woods and across the swollen sloughs over the weed grown fields must be taken by himself. It was accomplished safely, and at slower pace he turned his tired horses head home ward. He would have liked to travel faster, for Fanny would be worrying about his not getting home before dark, but he must have some mercy on the jaded beast under him. Thank God, Fairfax would have plenty of time to escape, if hc started right off. It was dark, quite dark, when he passed from ths shelter of tho trees that marked the boundary line Of Fairfax's place out into the big road-so dark that he did not see motionless group of horsemen drawn across his pathway un- til his own horse shied violently to one side and the single word "Halt" fell commandingly on his ears.
 "Fairfax's captorsp' He had only time to think it, when tho same con- manding voice called questioningly to him from out the gloom, "Who goes there2'
 Randolph Fairfax" came back clear ly, unfaltering!y, detiantly. A gurglc of laughter, or rather chorussed chuckle of triumph, and then he was completely surrounded as the posse hurried him forward away from Slowvillc. It was not of himself that he was think ing as he gallopcd through the sombcr woods with his captors that night. It was of the wife, of Fanny, watching and wondering and weeping through the long hours alone. It was time he was bearing his share of hardships. If it was not for her, he wouldn't mind. Perhaps, when light came, they'd give him a chance to write b ok to her. H. couldn't have done different. Fairfax was crippled and poorly mounted. These fellows Were on well-fed army horscs 1t wouldn't have done to risk the truth. ca and on through tho night, until, in the gray dawn of the day, camp was reached; brief respite, ther he four' himself on board transport
 It would be easy enough when he got tt
 headquarters 10 satisfy tho general 1T
 command that he was no military man.
 but law abiding civilian, staying a
 home and pursuing his usual vacations
 When he got to headquarters ane
 made his statement his b.ue eyes fairl,
 flashed lightning 10 find it discredited
 His interlocutor's sceptical gaze trave.ee
 slowly down one of Davenport's shapel,
 legs and up the other. Daven ports owl
 gaze followed wonderingly and hi
 brown checks turned ashcn white. H
 told all about it after his release fror
 Alton military prison at the close 0
 war;
 'lt was those rcd stripes down tn
 side of my pants that Fanny was g
 proud of. You see, had been in tn
 saddle and out of reach of buying an
 new pants until I was about out ( lem. Then Fanny cut up her travelin shawl, and, considered as the work ( an amateur, those pants were a success if did have to go into corner and tur } round three times before 1 could get m hand into my pocket; but she left th } bordering of the shawl in for fanc touch. Poor Fanny! l suppose sh } thought she'd make me look like sol dicr whether or no, and it did the busi
 ness for mo. It was more than coul do to convince those fellows l wasn't f major-general at the very least, instea of poor stay -at-home skulk. Yo l know cur boys weren't much of dandi, . after the first year."
 The gallery at DAvenport's is ont = more a crowded rendezvous, and W, I yarns alternate with crop and polemic 1 discussinns. but wheneYer tha heroes